What can you do with a Psychology degree from University of California, San Diego?

First, some facts. Of the Psychology graduates from University of California, San Diego we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 26 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 62%, Psychology graduates from University of California, San Diego have a slightly lower likelihood (-5%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, 69% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Psychology graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Psychology degree from University of California, San Diego?
• What do Psychology graduates from University of California, San Diego do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Psychology degree from University of California, San Diego? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Psychology degree from University of California, San Diego?
• What are the best colleges for Psychology?

View a random Psychology graduate from University of California, San Diego and our analysis:

Relevance score: 92% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2015 from University of California, San Diego with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Shelter Intern Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence Sep 2015 - Nov 2015 The Shelter Intern position directly involves supporting individuals affected by domestic violence, applying psychological principles of advocacy and crisis intervention from the persons psychology background. Bilingual Shelter Advocate/Case Manager Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence Nov 2015 - Jun 2017 As a Bilingual Shelter Advocate/Case Manager, the job requires substantial application of psychological principles and intervention strategies, making it very relevant to the degree in psychology. Resident Assistant Boston College Aug 2017 - May 2018 The role of a Resident Assistant involves some psychological skills like peer support and conflict resolution, but it is largely administrative and residential in nature, making it only indirectly related to psychology. Literacy Partnership Program Tutor Boston College Oct 2017 - May 2018 Tutoring in a Literacy Partnership Program can benefit from communication and understanding of learning processes that relate to psychology but does not directly utilize psychology as a core qualification. Graduate Clinical Intern The Academy of Physical and Social Development Sep 2017 - Jun 2018 The Graduate Clinical Intern position requires applying psychological theories and techniques directly, which aligns closely with the individuals psychology degree and involves substantive work in the field. Creative Arts Therapist/Instructor Able ARTS Work Nov 2018 - Jan 2019 As a Creative Arts Therapist/Instructor, the job necessitates the use of psychological strategies and therapeutic techniques to foster creative expression, making it highly relevant to the psychology degree. Workshop Assistant Able ARTS Work Nov 2018 - Jan 2019 The Workshop Assistant role at Able ARTS Work may involve some facilitation skills that overlap with psychological training, but it is not solely focused on psychological practice. Clinical Case Manager (AMFT) TBS - New Alternatives, Inc. Feb 2019 - Oct 2020 The Clinical Case Manager position involves critical psychological assessments and interventions, requiring the application of skills and knowledge from the psychology degree extensively. Licensed Clinician San Diego Youth Services Oct 2020 - Present As a Licensed Clinician, this role involves providing mental health services directly rooted in psychological principles, making it directly relevant to the degree in psychology. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Masters Degree Boston College Lynch School 2016 - 2018 ABOUT LMFT with a demonstrated history of working with youth and families. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizational workings, Counseling Techniques, communication with diverse range of clients, and as well as research. A history in social services, navigating both Southern California (San Diego County) services, as well as Massachusetts (Boston). Currently working as an LMFT with Adoption population at San Diego Youth Services.

What jobs can you get with a Psychology degree from University of California, San Diego?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Teacher
• Counselor Intern
• Research Assistant
• Academic Mentor
• Flight Attendant
• Law Clerk
• Student Teacher
• Soccer Coach
• Social Work Intern
• Registered Behavior Technician

When looking at the job profiles of people who graduated with a degree in Psychology from UC San Diego, it becomes pretty evident that many have landed roles closely tied to psychological principles, especially in the counseling and mental health fields. Positions such as Counselor Interns, Mental Health Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists are quite common and showcase a direct application of the skills learned during their studies. These roles allow graduates to use their understanding of human behavior, emotional support, and mental health practices in meaningful ways, confirming the relevance of their education to their careers.

However, there are also a notable number of graduates who have ventured into fields that don’t specifically require a psychology background. For instance, jobs in management, sales, and administrative roles appear often, and while some may utilize soft skills from psychology, they don’t fundamentally need knowledge of psychological theories or practices. Overall, while many graduates are in psychology-relevant jobs, a chunk has also drifted into unrelated fields, highlighting a mix of direct and indirect applications of their degree. So, it's a blend where some get to flex their psychology muscles, while others merely keep it in their back pocket as they tackle different career paths!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Psychology graduates (this is across all Psychology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, San Diego):

What kind of career trajectories do Psychology graduates from University of California, San Diego have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from the Psychology program at UC San Diego seem to have quite varied career trajectories, with a mix of both relevant roles in psychology and a range of seemingly unrelated fields. For many, the first job after graduation tends to be in counseling or related mental health positions. For instance, some graduates started as counselor interns or mental health workers, which aligns well with their degree. Others explored roles such as teaching or working in community services, which also leverage their understanding of human behavior and social dynamics.

Looking at career progression over the next five to ten years, many graduates deepened their involvement in the mental health field or education. Several who started in entry-level positions evolved into licensed therapists, social workers, or specialists in various mental health contexts. Meanwhile, some graduates pivoted to different sectors altogether, with many finding success in roles such as operations management or business and marketing. Although some graduates did veer away from pure psychology roles, it’s notable that others cultivated meaningful careers that still draw on their understanding of psychology in practice. Overall, while not every graduate sticks closely to their psychology roots, many find fulfilling paths that, in one way or another, connect back to the foundational principles learned during their studies at UC San Diego.

How hard is a Psychology degree from University of California, San Diego?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at UC San Diego can be challenging, but it really depends on your study habits and interests. The coursework dives deep into complex theories and research, so if you enjoy analyzing human behavior and are good at critical thinking, you might find it engaging rather than overwhelming. That said, some students do find the load a bit heavier compared to other majors, especially when it comes to statistics and research methods. It’s definitely not a walk in the park, but if you put in the effort and stay organized, you can totally handle it! Just make sure you’re ready to do some reading and writing, because it requires a good amount of both.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Psychology.

Do Psychology graduates from University of California, San Diego tend to make good money?

Looking at the job trajectories of these Psychology graduates from UCSD, it seems like some of them are on their way to making decent money, while others might be on a more modest path. The ones who stuck to education and mental health roles, like teachers and therapists, often start on relatively low salaries, especially early in their careers. However, as they gain experience and credentials, like becoming licensed therapists or taking on administrative roles, their earning potential increases significantly over time. For example, some of the graduates have moved into higher-paying positions like Senior Account Manager and Chief Operating Officer, which likely means they’re doing quite well financially. Overall, it varies a lot among them, but some certainly seem to be doing pretty well, while others may still be navigating the struggle of starting salaries in the social services field.

What buzzwords do Psychology graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Psychology (this is across all Psychology graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, San Diego). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Psychology?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Psychology (ordered by the average relevance score of their Psychology graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
Humboldt State University	85	10
Creighton University	85	11
Chicago State University	85	11
Winona State University	84	10
Butler University	84	12
North Dakota State University	83	13
Wesleyan University	83	10
Stonehill College	83	10
Agnes Scott College	82	10
University of Dayton	81	21
Marist College	81	14
University of Nevada-Reno	81	10
Tennessee State University	81	10
Le Moyne College	81	15
Elon University	80	17
University of the Incarnate Word	80	11
Carleton College	80	12
Berry College	80	11
Misericordia University	80	11
Northwestern University	79	15
California State University, Fresno	79	32
Eastern Washington University	79	11
Emory University	79	13
Clark University	79	13
Susquehanna University	79	12
Regent University	79	11
Michigan State University	78	61
Oregon State University	78	22
Central Washington University	78	12
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick	78	10
Santa Clara University	78	15
Loyola University Maryland	78	16
Brandeis University	78	11
Providence College	78	11
Rhode Island College	78	14
Indiana University of Pennsylvania	77	14
Hofstra University	77	19
California State University - East Bay	77	25
Marshall University	77	10
Nova Southeastern University	77	10
Muhlenberg College	77	13
Purdue University	76	21
UC Santa Barbara	76	23
Coastal Carolina University	76	15
Washington University in St. Louis	76	13
Yale University	76	13
UCLA	76	11
Minnesota State University, Mankato	75	12
California State University San Marcos	75	19
Chapman University	75	23
Tulane University	75	19
University of Colorado Colorado Springs	75	17
University of St. Thomas	75	11
University of Illinois Chicago	75	17
University of Southern Maine	75	10
California State University Channel Islands	75	23
South University	75	12
Mercy College	75	17
Arcadia University	75	19
State University of New York College at Old Westbury	75	17
University of California, Berkeley	74	36
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	74	43
Baylor University	74	22
The University of Texas at El Paso	74	23
University of Hawaii at Manoa	74	12
UC San Diego	74	10
Southeastern Louisiana University	74	14
California State University, Los Angeles	74	10
Northern Michigan University	74	10
Case Western Reserve University	74	10
University of Michigan-Dearborn	74	19
Sacred Heart University	74	15
Clark Atlanta University	74	16
St. Joseph's College	74	11
St. Ambrose University	74	10
University of Delaware	73	32
Boston University	73	27
University of Maryland	73	28
University of Maryland College Park	73	25
Metropolitan State University of Denver	73	24
Wright State University	73	24
Hampton University	73	18
Brooklyn College	73	20
Stetson University	73	11
University of Utah	72	29
Mississippi State University	72	22
Missouri State University	72	26
California State University-Los Angeles	72	22
Fordham University	72	22
Columbia College	72	17
University of Wisconsin-River Falls	72	16
Pepperdine University	72	19
New Jersey City University	72	13
Western Connecticut State University	72	15
Post University	72	13
Spelman College	72	28
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	71	25
University of Pittsburgh	71	58
Virginia Tech	71	17
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	71	24
University of South Carolina-Columbia	71	14
Eastern Kentucky University	71	20
University of Pennsylvania	71	13
Tarleton State University	71	18
Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis	71	13
Saint Louis University	71	13
William & Mary	71	17
University of Central Arkansas	71	18
Rutgers University-New Brunswick	71	11
Truman State University	71	15
City University of New York-Herbert H. Lehman College	71	17
Metropolitan State University	71	13
Columbus State University	71	11
Siena College	71	22
Rollins College	71	16
University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts	71	10
Meredith College	71	12
University of Washington	70	70
San Diego State University	70	50
East Carolina University	70	28
California State University, Northridge	70	63
Eastern Michigan University	70	19
The University of Memphis	70	19
University of Miami	70	20
University of Idaho	70	18
University of Minnesota Duluth	70	12
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay	70	12
Lehigh University	70	10
Argosy University	70	30
Yeshiva University	70	10
University of Wisconsin-Madison	69	47
Northeastern University	69	26
Georgia Southern University	69	29
Ball State University	69	19
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale	69	15
Stony Brook University	69	51
University of California, Santa Barbara	69	25
California State University, Chico	69	29
Loyola University Chicago	69	36
University of Tampa	69	21
University of Colorado Denver	69	28
University of Massachusetts Boston	69	25
Ramapo College of New Jersey	69	23
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University	69	12
Westfield State University	69	17
Walden University	69	15
The Catholic University of America	69	19
State University of New York at Albany	69	13
Penn State University	68	77
University of Michigan	68	53
California State University, Fullerton	68	46
Washington State University	68	34
University of Oklahoma	68	19
Western Washington University	68	20
University of Massachusetts Amherst	68	33
Boston College	68	25
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	68	17
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	68	21
American University	68	10
Villanova University	68	16
University of Houston-Downtown	68	22
Bradley University	68	10
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	68	13
Governors State University	68	15
Delaware State University	68	12
University of Florida	67	64
Temple University	67	64
California State University-Sacramento	67	71
UC Irvine	67	19
Bowling Green State University	67	22
Northern Illinois University	67	38
University of Minnesota	67	42
University of Mississippi	67	30
University of Vermont	67	22
Binghamton University	67	41
Queens College	67	47
University at Albany, SUNY	67	34
Southern Methodist University	67	13
The City College of New York	67	28
University of California, Los Angeles	66	74
North Carolina State University	66	45
Grand Valley State University	66	43
James Madison University	66	45
Louisiana State University	66	31
Towson University	66	61
Clemson University	66	41
University of California, Santa Cruz	66	52
University of Nebraska-Lincoln	66	30
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	66	30
Rutgers University	66	24
The University of Kansas	66	23
University of Alabama at Birmingham	66	32
University of California San Diego	66	13
The University of New Mexico	66	28
St. John's University	66	28
East Tennessee State University	66	11
Bridgewater State University	66	32
St. Cloud State University	66	15
Eastern Illinois University	66	20
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point	66	13
Southern Connecticut State University	66	24
State University of New York College at Oswego	66	14
University of California, Merced	66	34
Seattle University	66	12
Salem State University	66	14
Stevenson University	66	10
High Point University	66	10
Framingham State University	66	15
Canisius College	66	10
Southern New Hampshire University	65	63
University of Houston	65	58
University of Missouri-Columbia	65	46
University of Connecticut	65	42
Kansas State University	65	11
Old Dominion University	65	48
DePaul University	65	19
University of Nebraska at Omaha	65	19
University of Massachusetts, Amherst	65	28
Central Connecticut State University	65	16
Texas Woman's University	65	18
Quinnipiac University	65	13
Millersville University of Pennsylvania	65	23
California State University, Monterey Bay	65	28
North Carolina Central University	65	22
Suffolk University	65	12
Roger Williams University	65	14
University of New Orleans	65	14
City University of New York-College of Staten Island	65	20
Worcester State University	65	11
California Lutheran University	65	10
Arizona State University	64	137
The Ohio State University	64	94
University of North Texas	64	70
San Francisco State University	64	80
Texas State University	64	65
Grand Canyon University	64	71
Ohio University	64	36
Kent State University	64	38
New York University	64	38
George Mason University	64	52
Central Michigan University	64	39
Florida Atlantic University	64	44
California State University, Long Beach	64	39
Utah Valley University	64	23
Rowan University	64	49
Syracuse University	64	14
Drexel University	64	18
Kean University	64	50
Cleveland State University	64	25
The University of Southern Mississippi	64	23
The College of New Jersey	64	13
Troy University	64	28
Hunter College	64	36
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi	64	12
University of Southern Indiana	64	11
Adelphi University	64	17
SUNY New Paltz	64	14
Northeastern State University	64	15
Keene State College	64	15
Xavier University	64	17
La Salle University	64	10
McNeese State University	64	10
Denison University	64	10
Brandman University, Part of the Chapman University System	64	14
Florida State University	63	99
Florida International University	63	192
University of Cincinnati	63	32
Oklahoma State University	63	32
Appalachian State University	63	45
University of South Carolina	63	20
University at Buffalo	63	45
California State University-San Bernardino	63	46
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	63	27
Marquette University	63	15
University of Tennessee-Knoxville	63	18
Wichita State University	63	10
Indiana State University	63	10
Salisbury University	63	20
William Paterson University of New Jersey	63	18
Valdosta State University	63	15
University of San Diego	63	13
City University of New York-Brooklyn College	63	22
Fairleigh Dickinson University	63	12
Dallas Baptist University	63	10
Haverford College	63	13
University of Central Florida	62	180
Texas A&M University	62	104
The University of Texas at Austin	62	62
University of California, Davis	62	70
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	62	57
University of California, Riverside	62	69
University of Kentucky	62	35
University of Iowa	62	39
Kennesaw State University	62	34
Oakland University	62	36
University of Illinois at Chicago	62	24
Wayne State University	62	35
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)	62	16
University of California, San Diego	62	26
Weber State University	62	10
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania	62	20
California State University-Dominguez Hills	62	38
University of West Florida	62	26
Howard University	62	24
University of West Georgia	62	16
University of San Francisco	62	24
Gonzaga University	62	11
Longwood University	62	11
SUNY Geneseo	62	19
University of Georgia - Franklin College of Arts and Sciences	62	25
Virginia State University	62	14
Seattle Pacific University	62	13
Jackson State University	62	11
Bowie State University	62	16
University of Louisiana at Monroe	62	12
University of South Florida St. Petersburg	62	12
Brigham Young University	61	47
Indiana University Bloomington	61	54
San Jose State University	61	56
Iowa State University	61	23
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	61	32
Virginia Commonwealth University	61	62
University of Oregon	61	37
Miami University	61	44
Western Michigan University	61	22
Montclair State University	61	54
California State University-Fullerton	61	23
University of Massachusetts Lowell	61	27
Florida Gulf Coast University	61	27
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	61	14
Stephen F. Austin State University	61	23
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	61	14
Saint Leo University	61	32
Loyola Marymount University	61	18
Azusa Pacific University	61	16
University of Maryland Global Campus	61	16
California Baptist University	61	19
St. Olaf College	61	10
Saint Mary's College of California	61	11
Touro College	61	26
Indiana University East	61	16
Georgia State University	60	77
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	60	40
University of New Hampshire	60	47
West Chester University of Pennsylvania	60	27
California State University-Northridge	60	29
Utah State University	60	10
Northern Kentucky University	60	13
University of Nevada, Reno	60	11
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University	60	20
University of North Carolina Wilmington	60	19
University of Missouri-Saint Louis	60	14
National University	60	17
Fayetteville State University	60	16
Colorado Christian University	60	16
Whitworth University	60	11
Liberty University	59	91
Ashford University	59	80
Auburn University	59	35
The University of Texas at San Antonio	59	40
University of Virginia	59	33
University of Southern California	59	21
Portland State University	59	47
Boise State University	59	18
University of Rhode Island	59	28
University of Maryland University College	59	28
Radford University	59	26
Duke University	59	28
Christopher Newport University	59	22
State University of New York College at Cortland	59	12
University of Mary Washington	59	11
Fort Hays State University	59	11
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania	59	10
University of Washington Tacoma	59	11
University of Arizona	58	72
University of Colorado Boulder	58	49
Northern Arizona University	58	38
The University of Alabama	58	20
American Military University	58	23
University of Tennessee, Knoxville	58	45
San Diego State University-California State University	58	26
The University of Akron	58	18
University of North Carolina at Wilmington	58	26
Sonoma State University	58	18
University of South Alabama	58	10
Roosevelt University	58	15
Christian Brothers University	58	10
University of South Florida	57	83
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	57	51
California State University-Long Beach	57	29
College of Charleston	57	29
The George Washington University	57	20
Western Illinois University	57	12
Baruch College	57	10
Capella University	57	42
University of Missouri-Kansas City	57	19
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	57	13
Wilmington University	57	17
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville	57	15
North Central College	57	23
Georgia College & State University	57	12
Widener University	57	10
Dickinson College	57	12
Illinois Wesleyan University	57	10
Georgian Court University	57	10
University of Phoenix	56	232
Brigham Young University - Idaho	56	17
The University of Georgia	56	31
Kaplan University	56	22
Stockton University	56	17
California State University, Bakersfield	56	23
California State University, Stanislaus	56	17
The University of Texas at Dallas	55	30
University of Nevada-Las Vegas	55	42
Ferris State University	55	10
University of Maryland Baltimore County	55	32
University of Maine	55	17
University of Northern Colorado	55	10
Northwest Missouri State University	55	11
SUNY Oneonta	55	12
York College of Pennsylvania	55	10
College of the Holy Cross	55	10
Frostburg State University	55	11
Northwestern State University	55	18
City University of New York-Hunter College	55	26
Colorado State University	54	30
West Virginia University	54	30
Monmouth University	54	14
Biola University	54	10
Georgia Gwinnett College	54	13
University of Arkansas	53	25
University of North Florida	53	45
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick	53	10
Augusta University	53	10
Texas Tech University	52	34
Illinois State University	52	28
California State University-Chico	52	10
University of North Georgia	52	26
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania	52	20
City University of New York City College	52	12
The University of Texas at Arlington	51	23
Sam Houston State University	51	32
University of Louisville	51	30
Winthrop University	51	15
Lafayette College	51	10
University of Montana	50	11
Lee University	50	10
Georgia College and State University	50	10
Colorado Technical University	49	13
Harvard University	49	11
Northeastern Illinois University	48	14
University of Houston-Clear Lake	48	17
Carroll University	48	10
Abilene Christian University	47	10
Stanford University	46	12
Vanguard University of Southern California	46	11
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	45	12
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville	43	10
University of Notre Dame	41	10
University of Arkansas at Little Rock	39	10
Upper Iowa University	39	10